HB 1383

                                                            Introduced Version
           HOUSE BILL No. 1383
                 _____
              DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 21-42-8.
Synopsis: Military health care personnel pathways. Provides that an
institution may develop academic career pathways and integrated
academic bridge programs (program) for military health care personnel
that are designed to enable current and former military health care
personnel to achieve credentialing outcomes in reduced time. Creates
program parameters and requirements. Requires a participating
institution to submit certain program information to the legislative
council. Requires an institution that participates in a program to
coordinate with the United States Department of Labor and the Indiana
department of veterans' affairs. Provides that the Indiana professional
licensing agency shall collaborate with participating institutions to
integrate academic career pathways and academic bridge programs for
military health care personnel into the agency's licensure requirements.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
                        Judy, Morris
   January 8, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
2026  IN 1383—LS 7010/DI 143
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
   Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
  Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
 between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                   HOUSE BILL No. 1383
    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
 higher education.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 21-42-8 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
2 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2026]:
4    Chapter 8. Military Health Care Training Transferability
5    Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "agency" means the Indiana
6 professional licensing agency established by IC 25-1-5-3.
7    Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "institution" means any:
8      (1) state educational institution; or
9      (2) nonprofit college or university.
10    Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "military health care personnel"
11 means an individual who has received formal training and
12 practical experience in health care disciplines during the
13 individual's military service, including providing:
14      (1) emergency medical care;
15      (2) preventive health care; and
16      (3) specialized medical services.
17    Sec. 4. (a) An institution may develop academic career pathways
 2026  IN 1383—LS 7010/DI 143
                                  2
1 and integrated academic bridge programs for military health care
2 personnel that are designed to enable current and former military
3 health care personnel to achieve credentialing outcomes in reduced
4 time.
5    (b) A program developed under subsection (a) must do the
6 following:
7      (1) Integrate military academic and experiential learning to
8      accelerate the transition from military to civilian health care
9      credentialing based on developed military to civilian
10      occupational crosswalks (as described by the United States
11      Department of Defense SkillBridge Program) for the
12      following military occupations or specialties:
13(A) Infantryman.
14(B) Hospital corpsman.
15(C) Biomedical equipment specialist.
16(D) Orthopedic specialist.
17(E) Practical nursing specialist.
18(F) Operating room specialist.
19(G) Dental specialist.
20(H) Physical therapy specialist.
21(I) Patient administration specialist.
22(J) Optical laboratory specialist.
23(K) Medical logistics specialist.
24(L) Medical laboratory specialist.
25(M) Occupational therapy specialist.
26(N) Nutrition care specialist.
27(O) Cardiovascular specialist.
28(P) Radiology specialist.
29(Q) Pharmacy specialist.
30(R) Veterinarian food inspection specialist.
31(S) Preventive medicine specialist.
32(T) Animal care specialist.
33(U) Ear, nose, and throat specialist.
34(V) Respiratory specialist.
35(W) Combat medic specialist.
36(X) Behavioral health specialist.
37(Y) Eye specialist.
38(Z) Independent duty medical technician.
39(AA) Aerospace medical technician.
40      (2) Be fully compatible with the United States Department of
41      Defense SkillBridge Program.
42    Sec. 5. (a) An institution that participates in a program
 2026  IN 1383—LS 7010/DI 143
                                  3
1 described in section 4 of this chapter shall review military health
2 care personnel related health care programs in relationship to
3 realistic earning potential and employability of the institution's
4 graduates and submit a written report of the institution's findings
5 to the legislative council, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6,
6 not later than September 1 of each year.
7     (b) The report required under subsection (a) shall include the
8 following information:
9(1) The minimum number of months or years required to
10complete the health care program and the average number of
11months or years military health care personnel graduates of
12each health care program were enrolled.
13(2) The graduation rate of each health care program and the
14military health care personnel graduation rate.
15(3) The employment rate of military health care personnel
16graduates of each health care program within twelve (12)
17months of graduation.
18(4) A summary of all new actions taken by the institution
19during the reporting year to increase military health care
20personnel participation and to reduce transitional barriers to
21health care professionals.
22     Sec. 6. An institution that participates in a program described
23 in section 4 of this chapter shall coordinate with the United States
24 Department of Labor and the Indiana department of veterans'
25 affairs established by IC 10-17-1-2 to use health care and military
26 recruiters, as well as other dedicated resources, to advocate,
27 facilitate, and promote the recruitment and enrollment of military
28 health care personnel into military health care academic and
29 career pathways.
30     Sec. 7. The agency shall collaborate with participating
31 institutions to integrate academic career pathways and academic
32 bridge programs for military health care personnel into the
33 agency's licensure requirements.
 2026  IN 1383—LS 7010/DI 143